It is the expectation of the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council (BRIC), Independent School District 998, that all employees will maintain and practice the highest of standards of professional behavior, responsibility, respect and integrity with students, staff, parents and the community at all times.

Local District Policies

Staff members will follow the policies and procedures, including, of the local district that they are assigned to unless specified otherwise. Staff are responsible for reviewing the local policies for the districts they are assigned to on an annual basis as well as all BRIC policies and procedures.

COVID 19 Plan

Staff members assigned to individual districts will follow the COVID 19 procedures of the district in which they work. Staff members assigned to the BRIC office will follow the COVID 19 procedures of any district entered to perform the functions of their job.

Work Day

Work hours for teaching staff members are the same as those for local district staff unless specified otherwise. Staff may need to adjust hours occasionally for events such as IEP Team meetings and/or in-service training. Work hours for BRIC special education paraprofessionals are set based on local district program needs and as approved by the paraprofessional’s supervising teacher and BRIC Supervisor.

Mileage

Mileage is reimbursed for pre-approved travel for business for specific staff for such purposes at the current (prevailing) IRS rate. Mileage determinations are made on an established portal to portal basis. Staff who accrue such mileage, must submit mileage on the appropriate BRIC mileage travel expense claim form to your BRIC Supervisor prior to the last day of the following month of which it is accrued. Failure to submit mileage prior to the last day of the following month will result in the employee forfeiting reimbursement for mileage. Additional expenses may be reimbursed when pre-approved overnight travel occurs and must be accompanied by appropriate receipts.
                                               
Supervision

BRIC staff are under the supervision of local district building administrators and BRIC administrators. BRIC paraprofessionals are supervised by their supervising teacher and by District and BRIC administrators. BRIC administration and local administrative staff collaborate together in the supervision of BRIC staff assigned to local districts. BRIC staff are expected to keep their assigned BRIC Supervisor informed of student/staff issues on a regular basis and work through issues with the appropriate supervisory personnel.

Individual Calendars

The BRIC Teacher Specialist Master Agreement calls for 182 days of service per school year. Certified staff are each provided an individualized calendar on an annual basis that is prepared by their BRIC Supervisor. In all other instances, BRIC staff are to follow their assigned local district school calendars. All adjustments to individual calendars are to be pre-approved by your BRIC Supervisor.

Requisitions

All purchases completed through BRIC must be pre-approved by your BRIC Supervisor using the BRIC Requisition form. Purchases are limited to BRIC programming that may cross district lines or specialty items that may from time to time be unavailable or inaccessible through local district program purchasing and are allowable special education expenditures.

Emergency Closings

When local Districts have late starts, early outs or are closed due to emergencies such as a snowstorm, BRIC staff are to follow whatever  local District staff are directed to do in such situations.  Example:   District two hours late = BRIC staff report two hours late.  Please notify the BRIC office when local district emergency closings occur.  BRIC Itinerant staff will follow the BRIC Executive Director announcement.

Hepatitis B Vaccine

BRIC staff assigned to programs where bodily fluids/materials contact may occur, are encouraged to obtain Hepatitis B vaccine. BRIC will pay for this vaccine where reimbursement is otherwise not available and where it is justified based on the BRIC employee’s assignment. Check with your BRIC Supervisor.

Wellness

Consistency is important in the delivery of special education and related services to our students with disabilities.  Regular attendance is important to providing this consistency throughout the school year.   All BRIC employees are encouraged to maintain a lifestyle that best ensures the prevention of problems that may lead to chronic illness and possible high rates of absenteeism from work. 

Extra-Curricular

School based extracurricular activity assignments such as coaching are discouraged due to the extent of responsibilities special education staff generally have within their respective assignments.  All BRIC staff assuming such activities must notify their BRIC Supervisor in advance of doing so and are encouraged to discuss the management of such additional duties in addition to the extensive responsibilities as a special education instructor and IEP Manager with their BRIC Supervisor.

IEP/IFSP/Due Process Procedures and Forms

All BRIC and member district case managers must follow all applicable state and federal IEP/IFSP/due process rules and regulations in the provision of special education and related services. As such, it is the case manager’s responsibility to meet due process timelines, address eligibility criteria components, develop technically adequate evaluation reports and IEPs/IFSPs and ensure that required team members are provided adequate notice regarding evaluations and required attendance at team meetings. In addition, case managers are required to keep special education records up to date for the students they are assigned. To assist case managers in completing these due process responsibilities, BRIC utilizes the web-based software program SPED Forms.

In order to provide necessary access to special education records to both BRIC specialists and staff as well as adhere to record maintenance laws, special education teachers in BRIC districts are required to maintain two due process files. The first is the hard copy special education file housed within the school district. The second is the SPED Forms electronic file utilized by case managers and BRIC for accessing and reviewing student information and for compliance and monitoring purposes. Both files should include the same documents (see exceptions below) and it is important that both files are kept up-to-date with required information.

The following information is required to be maintained in chronological order in each student’s special education file. Any document that has handwritten information or signatures should be electronically scanned and uploaded to the student’s SPED Forms history. Required items include:

• SST/TAT/Intervention and Pre-referral Documentation*

• Due Process Paperwork, including:

- Evaluation Plans -Prior Written Notices

- Parental Consent Forms -Test Protocols*

- Assessment Information* - Evaluation Reports

- Release of Information - Individualized Education Plans

- Transfer of Rights - Summary of Performance

- Manifestation Determination - Meeting Attendance and Minutes

• Parent Contact Logs

• Behavior Plans

• Consultation Reports*

• Documentation Forms (graduation, transfer)

* Items with an asterisk are not required to be part of the SPED Forms electronic file.

All required documentation should be located in both the special education hard copy file and in the History section of SPED Forms. Case managers can place documents in history by saving and finalizing information produced within SPED Forms –or- by scanning and uploading information to the History tab.

Confidentiality

All BRIC staff will maintain and practice strict adherence to Data Privacy rules regarding individual students and their families.  Confidentiality is a matter of respect and dignity for the rights of those we serve in special education.

Electronic Device and Network Use

BRIC recognizes the value of computer and other electronic resources to improve student learning and enhance the quality of special education services in our member districts. BRIC expects the responsible use of computers, cell phones, computer networks, including the internet, and other electronic resources in support of the mission and goals of BRIC and our member districts. BRIC reserves the right to randomly and periodically check the usage of BRIC issued electronic devices.

Social Media

All BRIC staff are representing the Bemidji Regional Interdistrict Council and their district of assignment at all times and therefore need to be mindful of social media content.  Staff will refrain from communicating educational information using social media platforms (i.e.,  Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, etc…).

Mandated Reporting

All BRIC staff are mandated reporters of suspected child neglect or physical or sexual abuse.  Staff must immediately report any knowledge of or reasonable reason to believe a child is being neglected or physically or sexually abused or has been neglected or physically or sexually abused within the preceding three years.  BRIC staff will follow district procedures for reporting of suspected child neglect or physical or sexual abuse and notify their BRIC Special Education Supervisor within 24 hours of the report.  Mandated Reporting Policy 414 is located on the BRIC website.

Request for Consultation Services

To request a consultation from a related services specialist, please complete the Request for Consultation Form located on the BRIC Website.

• Autism Spectrum Disorders Specialists

• Occupational/Physical Therapists

• Vision and Orientation/Mobility Specialist

• Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist

• Behavior Specialist

• Developmental Adaptive Physical Education Specialist

• Physical Impairment Specialist 

• Other Educational or Medical Specialists or Consultants.  

• Assigned students must be supervised at all times during the school day.

• BRIC classroom instructors are expected to identify and implement classroom management procedures based on the individual needs of the students they are assigned and based on research-based best practice such as Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies (PBIS).

• All field trips must be arranged and approved through district administration.

• Parent/Guardian approval must be obtained for any and all significant changes in an individual student’s IEP/IFSP.  Consult your BRIC Supervisor with questions regarding what is or is not an amendment of the IEP/IFSP.

• Parents/Guardians need to be informed of instruction in health (sex) education for learners with special needs when such instruction is in addition to or significantly different than such health instruction within the regular education curriculum.

• Parents/Guardians need to be informed and in some cases, written permission obtained when professionals other than those normally assigned to a student work directly with a special needs learner on a regular basis (e.g., Mental Health Workers).

• All BRIC Staff are expected to complete CPI crisis intervention training.  In addition, some BRIC staff may be required to complete CPR and First Aid training.

• BRIC certified staff  are expected to remain current regarding best practices in the field of education, including: successful classroom management, curriculum and instructional practices for learners with special needs, and all special education due process procedures. BRIC certified staff are also expected to maintain a current and valid teaching license with the Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB).

• BRIC expects the use of data-driven decision-making for all learners based on systematic data collection procedures, data measurement of progress and setting of goals and objectives based on such data.

• All BRIC staff are expected to know local district policies and procedures for curriculum and instruction as well as crisis management and building evacuation procedures.      

All Leave Requests

Staff must complete and submit to the BRIC office a Request for Leave form each time an absence from work occurs.  All leave must be approved by the BRIC Supervisor and Executive Director.  Staff must inform local district administration of all leave in advance of such known (scheduled) leave as per the local district policies and procedures.

Sick Leave

• When a staff member is ill, he or she must contact the locally assigned district building as per district policy and procedures in order for the local district to obtain an appropriate substitute. Staff must contact the BRIC office no later than 8:00 a.m. the day of the absence.

• When a staff person is in need of consecutive sick days, the staff member will inform the local district again each day per district policy and procedures so a substitute may be retained. Staff must again notify the BRIC office by 8:00 a.m. on each consecutive day of sick leave.

• BRIC staff can request sick leave in 1-hour increments.

• BRIC Teacher Specialists must send a completed BRIC Request for Leave form to the BRIC office within three (3) school days after returning to work. 

• BRIC Paraprofessionals must send a completed BRIC Request for Leave form within three (3) school days after returning to work and no later than the end of the pay period during which the absence occurred, whichever comes first. 

• BRIC reserves the right to request a Physician’s note for absence due to illness when such leave exceeds three (3) or more consecutive days or becomes excessive.

Personal Leave

• Personal leave requests are to be submitted to the BRIC office using a BRIC Request for Leave form at least three days prior to the date(s) of the personal leave.  In an emergency, please contact your supervisor.

• BRIC staff can request personal leave in hour or full-day increments. 

• Staff must inform local supervisory and administrative personnel of all approved leaves in advance.

Professional Leave

• Requests for professional leave must be submitted in advance on a BRIC Request for Leave form and submitted to the BRIC office for approval.

• Professional leave requests must detail expenses to the extent they are known and a copy of the workshop agenda must be attached to the request form.

• Reimbursement for food, lodging, mileage and registration expenses for pre-approved professional leave must be documented on the appropriate BRIC Request for Reimbursement form and accompanied by receipts for such expenses as well as an agenda or other proof of attendance.  Reimbursement forms are to be submitted to the BRIC office for approval.

• Staff attending common conferences/in-service training events are encouraged to carpool or secure local district transportation vehicles.

• Staff must inform the local district administration of all approved leaves in advance.

Canceling a Leave

It is the responsibility of the BRIC Employee requesting leave to maintain a copy of the submitted BRIC Request for Leave form in the event there are questions regarding the leave or the leave needs to be canceled.

To cancel a leave request, the staff person must write the word ‘CANCEL’ across the top of their retained copy of the original leave form and re-submit the form to the BRIC office. The staff person must also notify their local district of any approved changes or cancellations of leave.

Assignment

Paraprofessionals are assigned either as a general program para or assigned specifically to an individual pupil as may be indicated in the student’s IEP/IFSP.  BRIC administration reserves the right of assignment of paraprofessionals by position and based on student needs. 

Employment Criteria

BRIC paraprofessionals are expected to meet the federal mandated employment and MDE requirements.  These requirements include a passing score on the Parapro Test, or a 2-year degree or equivalent   (60 credits of postsecondary education or completion of competency requirements outlined in the BRIC paraprofessional portfolio).  Evidence of completion of one of these requirement options must be on file in the BRIC personnel office.

Training

In addition to the above requirement, BRIC paraprofessionals are required to maintain a training log documenting their training related to special education.  Paraprofessionals will be notified of required training on an annual basis.

Supervision
BRIC hourly employees are supervised by their supervising teacher and by BRIC and local district administrators.    

Local District Policies

BRIC hourly employees will follow the policies and procedures of the local district to which they are assigned unless otherwise specified.  Employees are responsible for reviewing the local policies for the districts they are assigned to on an annual basis and are also responsible for reviewing the most updated BRIC policies and procedures.

Performance Appraisals

BRIC Supervisors, along with district administration and supervising teacher input, will evaluate Paraprofessionals, COTA’s and SLPA’s performance during their first year of employment and once every three years thereafter, unless conditions warrant more frequent evaluations.

Time Sheets

Staff completing timesheets are responsible for accurately completing their weekly time sheets which are to be turned into the BRIC office on or prior to the 5th and 20th of each month.   Timesheets that are not received by the 5th or 20th of the month will be paid on the following pay period. Supervising Teachers are to review and approve the timesheets for those paraprofessionals assigned to them prior to submitting the timesheet for approval from the BRIC Supervisor.

Adjustments in Para Hours

Any and all adjustments in BRIC paraprofessional hours must receive written prior approval from a BRIC Supervisor and must be reflected on the subsequent paraprofessional timesheet when submitted to the BRIC office.